The Georgia Emergency Management Agency/Homeland Security and key partners will host a Twitter chat to help promote winter weather preparedness.

Between 11 a.m. and noon Friday, GEMA/Homeland Security Director Charley English, state Department of Transportation Commissioner Keith Golden, National Weather Service meteorologist-in-charge Keith Stellman and Georgia Power distribution manager-emergency operations Aaron Strickland will answer winter weather-related questions from the public and the media live at www.twitter.com/GeorgiaEMA.

“Because Georgia does not typically see significant snow and ice accumulations, even small amounts can affect roads and power lines,” said English. “We hope Georgians will use this opportunity to ask questions about what GEMA and our key partners are doing to prepare, and the steps individuals and families can take to protect themselves and their property in winter weather.”

The panel of experts will provide safety tips and take questions on the following topics: This year’s forecast, getting around in winter weather, energy issues and overall preparedness efforts. Georgians can participate in the Q&A by tweeting a question using the hashtag #AskGEMA. Responses can be viewed by clicking the #AskGEMA hashtag on Twitter or following GEMA directly @GeorgiaEMA.

The winter weather preparedness Twitter chat coincides with the three-year anniversary of a winter storm that brought up to 7 inches of snow to north and central Georgia on Jan. 9-10, 2011. This year, Georgia experienced record cold temperatures on Thanksgiving, long before winter officially began Dec. 21.